Validation of Models for Predicting Formaldehyde Concentrations in Residences due to Pressed-Wood Products |
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| Authors: | Samuel Silberstein Richard A Grot Kunimichi Ishiguro Joseph L Mulligan |
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| Institution: | 1. Center for Building Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Gaithersburg , Maryland , USA;2. Taisei Corporation , Tokyo , Japan , USA;3. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission , Washington , D.C. , USA |
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| Abstract: | This paper describes a laboratory project to assess the accuracy of emission and indoor air quality models to be used in predicting formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations in residences due to pressed-wood products made with urea-formaldehyde bonding resins. The products tested were partlcleboard underlayment, hardwood- plywood paneling and medium-density fiberboard (mdf). The products were initially characterized in chambers by measuring their formaldehyde surface emission rates over a range of formaldehyde concentrations, air exchange rates and two combinations of temperature and relative humidity (23° C and 5 0% RH; 26°C and 60% RH). They were then installed in a two-room prototype house in three different combinations (underlayment flooring only; underlayment flooring and paneling; and underlayment flooring, paneling, and mdf). The equilibrium formaldehyde concentrations were monitored as a function of air exchange rate. Particleboard underlayment and mdf, but not paneling, behaved as the emission model predicted over a large concentration range, under both sets of temperature and relative humidity. Good agreement was also obtained between measured formaldehyde concentrations and those predicted by a mass-balance indoor air quality model. |
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